Subject: Labour Against the War (England)

From: Dorothy Macedo [mailto:d.macedo@unisonfree.net]
Sent: Sunday, October 28, 2001 6:03 AM
To: michael letwin
Subject: Labour Against the War (England)

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, you will be pleased to hear that the English version of Labour Against the War was launched on 24 October in Portcullis House, the office block/meeting rooms building for MPs next to Parliament in the heart of Westminster. I expect you will get official confirmation soon but I thought you’d like to know at once. It is the English rather than the British version because a separate organisation is being set up in Scotland.

Speakers at the launch meeting included veteran ex-MP Tony Benn, Labour Party NEC member Christine Shawcroft, ASLEF (train drivers union) General Secretary Mick Rix and Erkan Gok representing Turkish workers in London plus MPs Bob Marshall-Andrews, George Galloway, Jeremy Corbyn, Alice Mahon and Paul Marsden. Other MPs present included Kelvin Hopkins and John McDonnell. The meeting was attended by Labour Party activists from London and the south east of England. The meeting agreed the statement of aims (see below) and set up a committee which is now contacting local Labour Parties in every constituency to build support. We plan to have a large Labour Party presence on the next major demonstration in London on 18 November.

This is the report that appeared in the Guardian newspaper:

[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2001/oct/25/afghanistan.politics]

Anti-war MPs force Blair and Short on to defensive
Party leftwingers launch Labour Against the War group, but development secretary declares: ‘We must not wobble’
Michael White and Patrick Wintour
Guardian Thursday October 25, 2001

Backbench critics of the US-led coalition’s military campaign against the militant al-Qaida network and the Taliban regime in Afghanistan launched a group called Labour Against the War last night, amid growing signs that internal opposition to Tony Blair’s policies is growing in confidence – despite differences among the opponents.

The launch of the group, mainly by leftwing MPs, followed brisk exchanges in the Commons. Mr Blair and the international development secretary, Clare Short, were taken to task about a range of politics. Not even Ms Short’s high reputation on the left could wholly deflect the criticism.

Mr Blair told Jeremy Corbyn that he “respects entirely his right to disagree” but refused to endorse calls for a pause in American bombing of what he stressed included “no civilian targets at all” in Afghanistan.

Making a Commons statement on the desperate struggle to get aid through to the refugees Ms Short – who had earlier soothed the weekly private meeting of backbenchers – told critics that no landmines had been dropped on Afghanistan during the 16-day campaign. But she admitted that a “few” cluster bombs may have been deployed.

She was even more adamant than Mr Blair that the Taliban were the main obstacle to relief supplies reaching Afghan civilians. “It is not true that the bombing is the cause of the problem,” she told MPs, adding later: “We know how in good people’s hearts they hate the bombing. But they are wrong.”

“Of course we must mini mise the bombing and move to the political phase as soon as possible. But we must not wobble,” the impassioned minister said.

Refugee figures were “much less than the UN predicted” Ms Short also revealed. Many people were moving within the country to their villages.

The priority of the anti-war group at Westminster is to rally support among Labour activists in constituencies, so that an increasingly significant anti-war movement is not dominated by churches, pressure groups such as CND and far-left fringe parties.

Alan Simpson, MP for Nottingham South, who organised last night’s anti-war meeting, stressed five key aims to unite diverse opinions:

*: Unequivocal condemnation of the September 11 attacks on Washington and New York;

*: Belief that military action against Afghanistan will not rid the world of the terrorist threat or create a stable international framework;

*: Opposition to British involvement in the bombing, and support for alternative methods of defeating terrorism, including aid;

*: Opposition to any clampdown on civil liberties or the right to asylum in the name of the fight against terrorism;

*: Commitment to work for these objectives in the Labour party and union movement.

Three members of Labour’s national executive are said to have offered support – Mark Seddon, Christine Shawcroft and Ann Black – and two union general secretaries, Mick Rix of Aslef and Andy Gilchrist, head of the firefighters union.

The anti-war group includes people with a variety of views. Some MPs would endorse operations by special forces to seize Osama bin Laden as prime suspect behind the terror attacks on US cities last month, but would not back the bombing of Afghanistan, or occupation by ground troops.

“Plenty of people wouldn’t mind if something happened to Bin Laden,” one leftwinger explained. But other critics want Bin Laden captured, not killed, and brought before an international court.

Labor Against the War Statement (Re: ALAA/UAW Local 2325)

M E M O

To: ALAA Members
Fr: Michael Letwin (Pres.), George Albro (Sec’y-Treas.) & Charlotte Hitchcock (Rec. Sec’y)
Re: Labor Against the War Statement
Da: October 28, 2001
Several recent e-mail messages allege that Michael Letwin and other Union members have made unauthorized antiwar statements on behalf of ALAA. The facts are as follows.

Letwin has been a principal supporter of New York City Labor Against the War (attached). To date, this statement has been endorsed by more than 500 union members, including 24 presidents, and numerous other elected officers and representatives.

Signers-including Letwin, Albro, and 29 other current or former ALAA members[1]-have consistently been shown with their union and position (if any), beneath the standard disclaimer, in capital letters, that “ALL INDIVIDUAL AFFILIATIONS AND TITLES [ARE] LISTED FOR IDENTIFICATION ONLY (UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED).”

From its inception, this statement has been widely circulated within ALAA and the UAW.

On September 20, the statement was discussed in draft form at the ALAA Executive Board, at which there was a unanimous consensus not to propose its adoption by the Union.

On September 27, the final statement was circulated to UAW Regional Director Phil Wheeler, and to UAW local presidents-two of whom signed, along with affiliation and title.[2]

On October 1, the statement was faxed to ALAA representatives (LAS e-mail was still down) under the bold capitalized statement that “THE ATTACHED IS NOT AN OFFICIAL ALAA STATEMENT.” (Emphasis in original).

On October 4, hard copies, along with written and verbal disclaimers, were distributed to a meeting of ALAA delegates at 111 Livingston Street.

At the October 23 Delegate Council, Letwin distributed an article from the October 26 Chief (attached) which stated that he has “spearheaded the [antiwar] petition drive,” and that municipal labor leaders had “signed as individuals, not as representatives of their respective organizations.”  (Emphasis added.)[3]

This caveat reflected an October 3 press release which conspicuously noted that the statement is “supported by . . . union members (in their individual capacity) . . .” (Emphasis added.) Letwin has written the Chief to reiterate that the above disclaimer applied to both him and the municipal union presidents.[4]

No ALAA funds have been used for New York City Labor Against the War.
Notes

1. To date, the following signers, all of whom identified themselves with ALAA and, where applicable, Union position, are:  George Albro, Daniel Ashworth, Harold Bahr III, Tracey Bing-Hampson, Peter Blum, Ricky Blum, Maria J. Chiu, Antonia Codling, Brooke P. Davis, Kate Fitzer, Winston A. Gordon, Elon Harpaz, Carol Hochberg, Adriene Holder, Daniella Korotzer, Michael Letwin, Eileen A. McCann, Aaron Micheau, Florence Morgan, Susan Olivia Morris, Catherine Newton, Gloria E. Quiñones, Mimi Rosenberg, Andrew Rowe, Hasan Shafiqullah, Claudette R. Spencer, Steve Terry, Azalia Torres, Edlyn Willer, Milton Zelermyer, and Robert Zuss.

2. In addition to Letwin, these were Maida Rosenstein of UAW Local 2110 and Jonathan Tasini of the National Writers Union/UAW Local 1981.  Both were identified as presidents of their respective local unions.

3. The article also reported that, despite AFL-CIO support for the war, New York City Central Labor Council president Brian McLaughlin “respect[ed] the difference of opinion.”

4. ”While accurate, ‘Justice, Not Vengeance’ Some Union Heads Oppose ‘Bush War’ (October 26) may have left some readers with the mistaken impression that I speak for my union in opposing the war.  As explained in the antiwar declaration and elsewhere, our union has not endorsed this statement, and, like nearly all the signers, my union affiliation and title are listed for identification only.”

Los Sindicalistas de Nueva York Contra La Guerra

http://barcelona.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=8227&group=webcast

LOS SINDICALISTAS DE NUEVA YORK CONTRA LA GUERRA by [accionglobal-info] 6:44pm Fri Oct 26 ‘01
letwin@alaa.org
27 de septiembre del 2001

En esta trágica circunstancia, desde “Ground Zero/NYC”, llamamos a todos los sindicalistas del mundo a sumarse a este llamamiento. (La lista actualizada de firmantes puede consultarse en http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LaborAgainstWar/files)

Para incluir su firma individual o de su sindicato, escribir a: letwin@alaa.org o LaborAgainstWar@yahoogroups.com , con los siguientes datos: nombre, cargo, sindicato, e-mail, ciudad, país.

Los atentados del 11 de septiembre han provocado un sufrimiento indescriptible a los trabajadores de Nueva York. Hemos perdido amigos, familiares, compañeros de trabajo de todas las razas, nacionalidades y religiones. Entre ellos, más de mil sindicalistas. Y más de 100.000 neoyorkinos perderán sus trabajos.

Condenamos estos crímenes contra la Humanidad y lloramos a quienes han muerto. Estamos orgullosos de los que participaron en los rescates y el enorme apoyo de los sindicatos a las familias de las victimas. Queremos justicia para los muertos y seguridad para los vivos.

Y estamos convencidos que la guerra de George Bush no es la respuesta.

Nadie merece pasar por lo que nosostros sufrimos el 11 de septiembre. La guerra afectará a incontables civiles inocentes, reforzará las alianzas de EE UU con dictaduras brutales y aumentara la pobreza en el mundo. De la misma manera que EE UU y sus aliados han inflingido un enorme sufrimiento en personas inocentes en lugares como Iraq, Sudan, Israel y los territorios Ocupados, la antigua Yugoslavia y América Latina.

La guerra también nos afectará y mucho a nosotros. Para los americanos en uniforme — la inmensa mayoría trabajadores y gente de color- será otro Vietnam. Provocará una nueva ola de terror contra arabes, musulmanes, sur-asiáticos, gente de color y emigrantes, erosionando nuestras libertades civiles.

Miles de millones de dólares serán desviados a los presupuestos militares y a los ejecutivos de las multinacionales, recortando programas esenciales de educación, sanidad y seguridad social. En Nueva York, como en otras partes, será un pretexto para imponer a los trabajadores y a los pobres una política de “austeridad” disfrazada de “unidad nacional”.

La guerra será aprovechada por los fanáticos religiosos –desde Osama Bin Laden a Jerry Falwell — y alentará nuevos actos de terrorismo en grandes centros urbanos como Nueva York.

Por lo tanto, los abajo firmantes, sindicalistas de la zona metropolitana de Nueva York, creemos que una respuesta justa y efectiva a los ataques del 11 de septiembre exige:

*NO A LA GUERRA. Es una injusticia castigar a toda una nación o pueblo por los crímenes de unos individuos. La paz solo es posible con una justicia social y económica global.

*!JUSTICIA SI, VENGANZA NO!. Que un Tribunal Internacional Independiente investigue imparcialmente, arreste y juzgue a los responsables de los ataques del 11 de septiembre.

*!NO AL RACISMO, DEFENDAMOS LAS LIBERTADES CIVILES! Hay que poner fin inmediatamente al terror, la descriminación racial y las restricciones legales contra la gente de color y los emigrantes, y defender los derechos democráticos.

*AYUDA PARA LOS POBRES, NO LOS RICOS. Ayuda del gobierno para las familias de las victimas y los trabajadores que han perdido sus empleos, no para los ricos. Hay que reconstruir Nueva York con trabajadores sindicalizados, con convenios sindicales y con especial cuidado para evitar nuevas amenazas a la salud y la seguridad de los trabajadores.

*NO A LA POLITICA DE “AUSTERIDAD” CONTRA LOS TRABAJADORES. Los trabajadores y los pobres no tienen que pagar el coste de los atentados del 11 de septiembre. Ninguna concesión en el nivel de vida, los beneficios y los derechos laborales de los trabajadores.

FIRMAS (a 19 de octubre del 2001)

SINDICATOS

*AFSCME DC 1707. New York

*AFSCME L.215, DC 1707. New York

RESPONSABLES SINDICALES

*Larry Adams, Pres., National Postal Mail Handlers Union L.300

*Barbara Bowen, Pres., Professional Staff Congress-CUNY/AFT L.2334

*Arthur Cheliotes, Pres., CWA L.1180

*Glenn Huff Jr., Pres., AFSCME L.205, DC 1707

*Michael Letwin, Pres., Ass’n. of Legal Aid Attorneys/UAW L.2325

*Jill Levy, Pres., Council of Supervisors and Administrators, NYSFSA, AFSA L.1

*Kim V. Medina, Pres., AFSCME L.253; Pres., DC 1707

*Victoria Mitchell, Pres., AFSCME L.107; VP, DC 1707.

*Maida Rosenstein, Pres., UAW L.2110

*Joel Schwartz, Pres., AFSCME, Civil Service Employees Ass’n. L.446

*Judy Sheridan-Gonzalez, RN, Chairperson, State Delegate Assembly, NY State Nurses Ass’n.

*Brenda Stokely, Pres., AFSCME L.215, DC 1707

*Jonathan Tasini, Pres., National Writers Union/UAW L.1981

AFILIADOS SINDICALES

(421 firmas…)

groups.yahoo.com/group/LaborAgainstWar/f…

‘Justice, Not Vengeance’: Some Union Heads Oppose ‘Bush War’

THE CHIEF-LEADER, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2001

‘Justice, Not Vengeance’
Some Union Heads Oppose ‘Bush War’

By DEIDRE McFADYEN

In a political climate where those who question U.S. foreign policy run the risk of being called unpatriotic, nearly 300 New York City trade unionists-including 12 union presidents-have come out publicly against the war.

“We want justice for the dead and safety for the living,” said a statement they signed. “And we believe that George Bush’s war is not the answer.”

`Don’t Need Vengeance’

Michael Letwin, president of the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys, UAW Local 2325, spearheaded the petition drive, which calls for “justice, not vengeance” and no labor austerity.”

Mr. Letwin called the petition an organizing and educational tool. “We wanted to show that labor was not of one mind on the issue,” Mr. Letwin said.

Communications Workers of America Local 1180 President Arthur Cheliotes, Professional Staff Congress President Barbara Bowen and Council of Supervisors and Administrators President Jill Levy were among the municipal union leaders who signed the petition. They signed as individuals, not as representatives of their respective organizations.

District Council 1707, which represents workers in the nonprofit sector, was also among the signatories.

AFL-CIO Central Labor Council President Brian McLaughlin, whose organization supports the Bush Administration’s response to the terrorist attacks, said those who signed the petition were entitled to express their views. “We respect the difference of opinion of others, particularly when it comes to these moral questions outside the realm of labor,” he said.

Mr. McLaughlin added, however, that he believed the overwhelming majority of New York City labor leaders backed the war in Afghanistan.

“No one should suffer what we experienced on September 11,” the anti- war statement said. “Yet war will inevitably harm countless innocent civilians, strengthen American alliances with brutal dictatorships, and deepen global poverty.”

The possible death toll on the American side was another cause for concern : “For Americans in uniform–the overwhelming number of whom are workers and people of color–it will be another Vietnam,” the statement said.

The critics contended that the people of Afghanistan shouldn’t be punished for the crimes of individuals. They called for convening an international tribunal to try the terrorist suspects.

The petition also warned that financing the war effort would drain resources from education, health care and the Social Security trust fund. “In New York City and elsewhere, it will be a pretext for imposing `austerity’ on labor and poor people under the guise of `national’ unity,” the statement said.

`Band-Aid on the Cancer’

Mr. Cheliotes linked the attack on the Twin Towers to U.S. support for free-market policies worldwide that do not address pressing social needs and widen the gulf between the rich and the poor. “A military response is like putting a Band-Aid on the cancer if you don’t deal with the causes of the problem,” he said. “We can’t be seen as the cause of the misery of the rest of the world. Those two great oceans don’t protect us anymore.”

Mr. Cheliotes said that the government should concentrate on freezing the financial assets of the terrorist network and closing the gaping holes that the attack revealed in American intelligence. He acknowledged that he had no easy answers for how to track down and capture Osama bin Laden and his cohorts.

Ms. Levy said that she supported targeted military forays into Afghanistan aimed at the bid Laden forces. But she opposed a full- scale war involving U.S. ground troops, citing the many oppressed Afghani civilians who would be killed. “These people are victims,” she said. “We will victimize them more.”

A protracted war against Afghanistan, she said, could backfire by stirring up anti-American sentiment in other Muslim nations. “Rather than get respect, you’d get the hatred of the rest of the people,” she said.

Mr. Cheliotes said it was appropriate for labor leaders to take a stand on the war because workers would be asked to bear the greatest burden. “When it is time for the nation to sacrifice, who is put on the sacrificial block?” he said. “It’s always, always working people.”

October 7 Coalition Report

OCTOBER 7 COALITION

On Monday, October 22nd a meeting was held by the people who have facilitated the large coalition meetings and representatives of some of the working groups of a city-wide anti-war coalition that began meeting at the Brecht Forum and organized the October 7th anti-war demonstration. We discussed several of the problems at recent meetings, and had an initial exchange of ideas about the nature of this new coalition.

We agreed that an interim step is needed before the next large general meeting. This would build on the existing strengths of our coalition – the working groups and participating organizations – and allow us to establish a stronger foundation to help build a lasting peace movement in New York City.

Toward that end, we agreed to convene an interim meeting this coming Monday, October 29th at 6:30 pm at the Brecht Forum (122 W. 27thSt., 10th Floor.) Each of the working groups of the coalition are being asked to send 2 representatives. In addition, we hope that each of the organizations that have been part of the coalition or want to be involved in the coalition, will send 1 representative (individuals are also welcome to attend). CydCharise Goler nd Humberto Brown will co-facilitate this meeting, which will include the following items (not necessarily in this order):

- nature of this entity as a “coalition”
- name of the coalition
- structure of the coalition
- process/facilitation of meetings
- decision-making
- reports from the working groups, including proposals for the work and activities of this coalition

In preparation for this meeting, we encourage each of the working groups to meet before next Monday night in order to discuss these issues and select representatives to the 10/29 meeting. Below is a contact list for the working groups, with information about some of their meetings.

Yours,

Andrew Stettner (notetaker)

Other attendees at 10/22 meeting: Arun Aguiar, John Riley, Nhan Ngo Thanh, Merle Ratner, Michael Letwin, Diane Greene-Lent, Daniel Vila, Bill Koehnlein, Ariella Ghanooni, Gloria Bletter, Tom Burgess, CydCharise Goler, Humberto Brown, Tristin Adie and Leslie Cagan. {Note: Andrew Stettner took these notes, and bears sole responsibility for their errors}
———————————————
WORKING GROUPS

1. People of Color Outreach:
Margarita Garcia: m_carnauba@excite.com
Ariella Ghanooni: gariella@hotmail.com
Next Meeting: Thursday, October 25th, 6:30 pm at the National Black Theater, 5th Avenue and 125th St.

2. Labor Outreach:
Michael Letwin: letwin@alaa.org
Ray LaForest: raylaforest@mindspring.com
Next Meeting: Wednesday, October 24th at 6 pm, Association of Legal Aid Attorneys, 568 Broadway, Suite 702A (just south of Houston)

3. Neighborhood Outreach:
Paul Mishler: mishlerp@aol.com
Mark Leger: trix@panix.com

4. Religious Outreach:
Johanna Ghiggeri: ghiggeri@ix.netcom.com
Peter Laarman: plaarman@judson.org
Yanira Lopez: ylitchel@aol.com
Next Meeting: Tuesday, October 23rd, 5:30 pm, Intercommunity Center for Peace and Justice, 20 Washington Square North

5. Student Outreach Group:
Douglas Medina: djmdam@hotmail.com (718-386-5635)

6. Education:
Bill Koehnlein: toplab@toplab.org

7. Internal Media & Communication:
Amy Melnick: amyinusa@yahoo.com

8. External Media & Communication:
Lisa Caswell: lcaswell17@cs.com

9. Arts & Culture:
Judith Miller: zeldaarts@mindspring.com

10. Finance & Administration:
Tom Waters: tjwaters@earthlink.net
Arun Aguiar: ArunAguiar@aol.com

11. October 7 Event (Other Protests):
Diane Greene Lent: greenelent@earthlink.net

Labor Antiwar Efforts in Three Cities

LABOR ANTIWAR EFFORTS IN THREE CITIES

The following brief reports were written by labor antiwar activists based in Washington, D.C., New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area. These independent committees have begun to establish communications in order to share information, to encourage other labor antiwar activists, and to promote common goals. (Statements issued or disseminated by each committee are attached in RTF format.)

Trade unionists making similar efforts elsewhere are invited to contact these committees at: D.C.: <laborpeace@hotmail.com> N.Y.C.: <letwin@alaa.org> S.F. Bay Area: <getorganized@igc.org>

WASHINGTON, D.C.–In Washington, DC, a group of us began meeting to talk about our concerns about our government’s response to the events of September 11. Our working group, which we call Labor Committee for Peace and Justice, is composed of national/international union office staff, union members and local union staff. We have written down our thoughts (Time for Justice document attached) in a statement and are seeking labor activists to sign it. Many of us have participated in peace activities held since September 11. We are constructing a web site to serve as an information sharing resource. It can be viewed at http://communities.msn.com/laborpeaceandjustice. We will also be holding a teach-in for the greater Washington, DC area labor community.

What You Can Do: We are asking those who share the same thoughts expressed in our statement to sign it. You may do so by sending an email to laborpeace@hotmail.com, stating your agreement and providing your name, labor affiliation, email address and telephone number. We will publish the statement in The Nation, and need donations to cover the cost of advertising. Checks may be made out to Labor Committee for Peace and Justice, and sent to Labor Committee, PO Box 34752, Washington, DC
20043-4752. We welcome signatures anytime. However, signatures for the Nation ad must be received by Thursday, October 18 by 4 pm.

NEW YORK CITY–NYC Labor Against the War, a cross-union multiracial committee, has come together over the past month from within a broader antiwar coalition (“Not in Our Name”) in that shared belief that trade unionists at “ground zero” have a special responsibility to speak out. The committee’s primary focus has been an ongoing antiwar petition which has been signed, to date, by 406 entities and/or individual trade unionists: 278 from NYC (including two labor bodies and 12 presidents), and 130 from other cities and countries (including 6 presidents)–the list of signers grows daily. The committee also sponsored a labor contingent at a large October 7 antiwar rally, and is planning labor teach-ins, educational materials, and other efforts. To subscribe to the NYCLAW listserv, please e-mail <LaborAgainstWar-subscribe@yahoogroups.com>.

What You Can Do: Whatever your location, please support these efforts by endorsing and disseminating the attached labor antiwar petition.

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA–Labor for Peace & Justice was formed at a meeting of 68 labor movement activists, union staff, and local union leaders from 35 organizations on Sunday, October 7. Three working groups were constituted: education, outreach, and resolutions. While no formal position was adopted, there was general consensus that the resolution against the war adopted by the San Francisco Labor Council provided all the essential points of unity. Rather than spend time and energy perfecting a political declaration, it was agreed that what really mattered was what position could be adopted by each person’s local union and that the most urgent work was to engage members in conversations that connected the union values they cherish with the struggle to pursue alternatives to military aggression, to defend civil liberties, to challenge scapegoating, racism and xenophobia, to defend the social safetynet, to prompt a reappraisal of the foreign policies that create characters like bin Laden. The education working group is preparing fact sheets, train-the-trainer materials, and talking points that can be used to prepare union leaders, stewards and staff to engage members in that conversation. Efforts will be made to have a resolution introduced at the forthcoming state federation of labor convention in November. A labor contingent is being organized for the October 20 march and rally in San Francisco.

What You Can Do: To contact Labor for Peace & Justice, write to <getorganized@igc.org>. Labor4Justice has been established as an email discussion list to which information about the activities of Labor for Peace & Justice will be posted and where participants can exchange information and views. To subscribe to Labor4Justice, send a blank email to <Labor4Justice-subscribe@topica.com> To view this list on the web, use this address: <http://www.topica.com/lists/Labor4Justice@igc.topica.com/read>

As Bombs Drop, Americans Say: ‘Not in Our Name’

http://www.pww.org/past-weeks-2001/As%20bombs%20drop,%20Americans%20say,%20′Not%20in%20our%20name’.htm

As bombs drop, Americans say: ‘Not in our name’
Call for peaceful solution grows

By Judith Le Blanc
People’s Weekly World
October 13, 2001

Changing America

NEW YORK CITY – Thousands marched just a few miles from Ground Zero to call for an end to war and terrorism. They rallied Oct. 7 while workers continued the grueling job of removing the rubble of the World Trade Center and the remains of the victims.

The march, called by a coalition of more than 100 organizations, New York Not in Our Name, was held to honor those who died and to call for ” the establishment of a fair and independent international tribunal to apprehend and try those responsible for the attack.”

The thousands of activists heard about the Bush administration’s bombing as they arrived. The crowd, estimated by The New York Times at 10,000, marched to Times Square, while thousands of shoppers waved or looked on in curiosity, most not yet aware of the war being carried on in their name.

“The demonstrators seem more determined. Perhaps it’s because bombs and missiles started hitting Afghanistan earlier today, and after Sept. 11 we in New York feel the suffering of other victims of mass violence more keenly,” commented Bill Davis, a member of AFSCME District Council 37 Retirees Committee and leader of the New York Communist Party.

The defense of civil liberties and civil rights was high on the agenda. For those who taunted the marchers along the route, Ron Daniels, executive director of the Center for Constitutional Rights, responded, “We must not let the Constitution be a casualty of the attack on the World Trade Center. No one can dare question our patriotism, because we are here today defending the first amendment …”

The marchers were penned in by police barricades during the rally, but their emotions could not be contained when James Creedon, a NYC emergency medical technician injured in the collapse of Tower 1, called for “justice, not vengeance.”

The city has been focused on honoring the working class heroes who died Sept. 11 and have since been carrying on the recovery efforts at Ground Zero. Four members of Creedon’s unit were lost in the WTC collapse.

Even now, every day there are funerals and memorials, held to say goodbye to the over 300 firefighters, EMT’s and police who perished.

“Every time I have spoken since Sept. 11, I have called for a moment of silence for rescue workers and the innocent people who lost their lives,” Creedon said.

“Today … I call not for a moment of silence but a moment of resolve. Let us all resolve today, here and now, together: We will talk to people in our community, to anyone who will listen that we will build a movement for justice, not vengeance; peace not war.”

The crowd erupted when two Nobel Peace Laureates, from Argentina and Northern Ireland, arrived. They were bringing a message to the UN on behalf of other Peace Prize winners, seeking an international peaceful solution to the conflict.

Aldopho Perez Esquivel, 1980’s winner, spoke of solidarity, especially with the families of the victims.

“It’s not the people of the world who want this war,” he said. “The only ones who want this war are the military industrial complex, which is controlling the world … There are all kinds of international agreements, conventions, treaties, and pacts that we can work with. Those should be a guide to our actions, not illegal acts of vengeance.”

Mairead Maguire, a 1976 Nobel Prize winner, said, “In Northern Ireland, we have 30 years of violence and deep political problems. We were helped into our peace process with the encouragement of American government that we should solve our problems nonviolently.

What applies for the people of Northern Ireland applies for the American government. The American and British government did not for one moment, thank God, contemplate bombing Belfast, why should they bomb Afghanistan?”

Maguire told the World that if the Afghan people have enough food and places to live and they begin to lead normal lives, eventually they will no longer provide terrorism a base of support.

“Those who perpetrated these terrible things,” Maguire said, “can be brought to justice through international laws.”

Amy Goodman, host of radio program “Democray Now,” stirred the crowd by calling on the corporate media to let the voices for peace be heard.

“The media is saying 90 percent of people are for war. I’d like to see the question people are asked,” Goodman said. “I doubt if they are asked, ‘Would you like to avenge the killing of innocent civilians, as we saw at the WTC, by killing innocent civilians?’ The majority would say no.”

The economic needs of working families are closely linked to the fight for peace. Michael Letwin, president of UAW Local 2325, Association of Legal Aid Attorneys, marching with the banner of Metro New York Labor Against War, spoke about the importance of a petition drive to galvanize labor’s voice.

“We in labor,” he said, want to send a message from Ground Zero, that “we are against war. We’ve seen the effects of the acts of terrorism.”

Letwin and others drafted the petition, which eight local presidents and 200 labor activists have now signed onto. “Labor’s participation in this struggle should represent the social consciousness for society.”

As the marchers went home to prepare supper for their families or catch up on the Giants game, they vowed to reach out to neighbors and co-workers with the rally’s message.

“We are for a policy against terrorism,” Daniels said.

“We believe that at the center of that policy is to apprehend the people responsible for the acts and bring them before an appropriate court of international law. Assassination must not be the policy of the government.”

Union Members Oppose the War (Socialist Worker)

http://www.socialistworker.org/2001/379/379_15_UnionistsNoWar.shtml

ON THE PICKET LINE
Union members oppose the war
October 12, 2001 | Page 15

In the weeks before U.S. military strikes began, a group of union activists took the first important steps toward responding to the September attacks and organizing opposition to Bush’s war.

In New York, trade unionists have initiated the Labor Committee for Peace and Justice in the Middle East and have held meetings to compose a response.

“September 11 has brought indescribable suffering to New York City’s working people,” the statement begins. “We have lost friends, family members and coworkers of all colors, nationalities and religions…We condemn this crime against humanity and mourn those who perished…And we believe that George Bush’s war is not the answer. No one should suffer what we experienced on September 11. Yet war will inevitably harm countless innocent civilians, strengthen American alliances with brutal dictatorships and deepen global poverty…”

The demands are no to war, an independent international tribunal to try those responsible for the September 11 attack, opposition to racism and the defense of civil liberties, and aid for the victims’ families and displaced workers.

So far, the statement has been endorsed by several leaders, such as National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 300 President Larry Adams, PSC/AFT Local 2334 President Barbara Bowen, CWA Local 1180 Arthur President Cheliotes, Association of Legal Aid Attorneys/UAW Local 2325 President Michael Letwin, National Writers Union President Jon Tasini, as well as dozens of rank and filers.

To sign on to the statement, e-mail laboragainstwar@yahoogroups.com.

National Labor Antiwar Statement

National Labor Antiwar Statement

PLEASE FORWARD TO OTHERS

All trade unionists, regardless of location, are invited to endorse the NYC Labor Against War statement below. (If you are not a trade unionist, please forward this to union members.) Endorsers will be listed by city and/or country. (All affiliations and titles will be “for identification only,” unless otherwise requested.)

A hard-copy sign-up form and latest list of signers can be downloaded from <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LaborAgainstWar/files/>.

To list your name (current list of signers below), please e-mail your name and union affiliation/position to LaborAgainstWar@yahoogroups.com, letwin@alaa.org, or fill in the blanks below, and fax this page to 212.343.0966.

Name: Union/Position:

E-mail: City:

———————————————————————–

NEW YORK CITY LABOR AGAINST WAR September 27, 2001

September 11 has brought indescribable suffering to New York City’s working people. We have lost friends, family members and coworkers of all colors, nationalities and religions–a thousand of them union members. An estimated one hundred thousand New Yorkers will lose their jobs.

We condemn this crime against humanity and mourn those who perished. We are proud of the rescuers and the outpouring of labor support for victims’ families. We want justice for the dead and safety for the living.

And we believe that George Bush’s war is not the answer.

No one should suffer what we experienced on September 11. Yet war will inevitably harm countless innocent civilians, strengthen American alliances with brutal dictatorships and deepen global poverty–just as the United States and its allies have already inflicted widespread suffering on innocent people in such places as Iraq, Sudan, Israel and the Occupied Territories, the former Yugoslavia and Latin America.

War will also take a heavy toll on us. For Americans in uniform–the overwhelming number of whom are workers and people of color–it will be another Vietnam. It will generate further terror in this country against Arabs, Muslims, South Asians, people of color and immigrants, and erode our civil liberties.

It will redirect billions to the military and corporate executives, while draining such essential domestic programs as education, health care and the social security trust. In New York City and elsewhere, it will be a pretext for imposing “austerity” on labor and poor people under the guise of “national unity.”

War will play into the hands of religious fanatics–from Osama bin Laden to Jerry Falwell–and provoke further terrorism in major urban centers like New York.

Therefore, the undersigned New York City metro-area trade unionists believe a just and effective response to September 11 demands:

*NO WAR. It is wrong to punish any nation or people for the crimes of individuals–peace requires global social and economic justice.

*JUSTICE, NOT VENGEANCE. An independent international tribunal to impartially investigate, apprehend and try those responsible for the September 11 attack.

*OPPOSITION TO RACISM–DEFENSE OF CIVIL LIBERTIES. Stop terror, racial profiling and legal restrictions against people of color and immigrants, and defend democratic rights.

*AID FOR THE NEEDY, NOT THE GREEDY. Government aid for the victims’ families and displaced workers–not the wealthy. Rebuild New York City with union labor, union pay, and with special concern for new threats to worker health and safety.

*NO LABOR “AUSTERITY.” The cost of September 11 must not be borne by working and poor New Yorkers. No surrender of workers’ living standards, programs or other rights.

SIGNERS (List in formation: Rev. October 5, 2001 17:36) ALL AFFILIATIONS AND TITLES LISTED FOR IDENTIFICATION ONLY (UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)

PRESIDENTS (9)
*Larry Adams, National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 300

*Barbara Bowen, Professional Staff Congress-CUNY/AFT Local 2334

*Arthur Cheliotes, CWA Local 1180

*Michael Letwin, Association of Legal Aid Attorneys/UAW Local 2325

*Jill Levy, Council of Supervisors and Administrators (CSA), NYS Federation of School Administrators, AFSA Local 1

*Maida Rosenstein, UAW Local 2110

*Joel Schwartz, CSEA Local 446, AFSCME

*Brenda Stokely, AFSCME Local 215, DC 1707

*Jonathan Tasini, National Writers Union/UAW Local 1981

OTHER MEMBERS (168)
*Jayma Abdoo, Joint Council Delegate, UAW Local 2110

*Ervand Abrahanian, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Tristin Adie, Shop Steward, CWA Local 1109

*Marilyn Albert, RN, SEIU Local 1199

*George Albro, Sec’y-Treasurer, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Tom Anderson, Vice-Chairperson, OSA

*Anthony Arnove, NWU/UAW Local 1981

*Sylvia Aron, Human Serv. Providers Adv. Cttee., NYC Central Labor Rehab. Council; Past President, AAUP, Adelphi Chapter

*Stanley Aronowitz, University-Wide Officer & Executive Council, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Daniel Ashworth, Delegate, CDD-Brooklyn, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Harold Bahr III, Chair, GLTGC, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Ellen Baker, Assistant Professor of History, Columbia University; AAUP

*Thomas Barton, Shop Steward, AFSCME Local 768, DC 37

*Nicholas K. Bedell, Grievance Representative, CWE/UFT

*Dorothee Benz, Communications Director, CWA Local 1180

*Carl Biers, Executive Director, AUD

*Peter Blum, Acting Vice-President/CAB, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Robert Bomersbach, OSA

*Ian Brand, UNITE! Local 169

*Caroline N. Brown, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37

*Bill Bradley, Delegate, SEIU Local 32B-J

*Renate Bridenthal, Chair, International Committee, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Rachel Burd, labor consultant, NWU/UAW Local 1981

*Chris Butters, AFSCME Local 1070, DC 37

*Barbara H. Chasin, officer, AFT Local 1904, Montclair State University

*A.B. Chitty, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334; USN 65-9 VN, 66-7 68, NY/VVAW

*Maria J. Chiu, JRD-Queens, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Kimberly Christensen, UUP

*Patricia Clough, Queens College Chapter Officer, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Antonia Codling, Chair, ACLA, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Hillel Cohen, Delegate, SEIU Local 1199

*Catherine Cook, Joint Council Delegate, UAW Local 2110

*Sandi E Cooper, Prof. of Hist., College of SI & Grad. Sch.-CUNY, frm. chair, Univ. Fac. Senate; PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Thelma C. Correll, SEIU Local 1199, Retirees Chapter Executive Cttee.; AUD Adv. Bd.; PHANYC

*Lillian Cozzarelli, CWA Local 1180

*Claire Crosby, GSEU/UAW Local 2110

*Jackie DiSalvo, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Robert E. Dow, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37

*Bryce Dowd, Organizer, SEIU Local 1199

*Steve Downs, Executive Board, TWU Local 100

*Phyllis Eckhaus, NWU/UAW Local 1981

*Madeleine M. Egger, CWA Local 1101

*Hester Eisenstein, Queens College Chapter, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Toby Emmer, Director, UAW Region 9A Education Fund

*Hugh English, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Hillary Exter, LSSA/UAW Local 2320

*Samuel Farber, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Kate Fitzer, CDD-Brooklyn, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Geoffrey Fox, NY Local Steering Committee, NWU/UAW Local 1981

*Josh Fraidstern, TWU Local 100

*Richard W. Franke, Executive Board, AFT Local 1904, Montclair State University

*Lew Friedman, UFT

*Eric Fruman, AFT

*Nanette Funk, Brooklyn College Chapter, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Pam Galpern, Shop Steward, CWA Local 1101

*Gary Goff, Recording Sec’y, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37

*Marty Goodman, Executive Board, TWU Local 100

*Winston A. Gordon, CDD-Brooklyn, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Mark Grashow, former Chapter Chairperson, UFT

*Shirley Gray, Grievance Representative, OSA

*Mike Grimbel, AFSCME Local 375, DC 37; Delegate, NYC Central Labor Council

*George Gulifield, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37

*Larry Hanley, City College Delegate, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Elon Harpaz, Delegate, CAB, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Bill Henning, Vice-President, CWA Local 1180

*Lucy Herschel, Delegate, SEIU Local 1199, Legal Aid Society Chapter

*Ed Hilbrich, SSA/SEIU Local 693

*Carol Hochberg, Vice-President/JRD, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Norman Hodgett, AFSCME Local 371, DC 37

*Nina Howes, RN, Delegate, SEIU Local 1199

*Dean Hubbard, union attorney, Labor & Employment Committee, National Steering Committee, National Lawyers Guild

*Carolyn Hughes, UFT

*Lisa Jessup, Organizer, UAW Local 2110

*Christine Karatnytsky, Executive Board, New York Public Library Guild, AFSCME Local 1930; Editor, Local 1930 Update

*Danny Katch, Teamsters Local 805

*Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz, Director, Queens College Worker Education Extension Center; PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*David Kazanjian, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Dian Killian, Organizer, Journalism Division, NWU/UAW Local 1981

*Terry Klug, Sec’y-Treasurer, TWU Local 241

*Lisa Maya Knauer, GSOC/UAW Local 2110

*John Korber, IWW-NYC; UFT

*Daniella Korotzer, Alternate Vice-President/CDD-Brooklyn, Health & Safety Representative, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Kitty Krupat, Bargaining Team, GSOC/UAW Local 2110

*Ray Laforest, Staff Representative, DC 1707, AFSCME

*Jane Latour, Dir., Women’s Proj., AUD; Man. Ed., Hardhat Mag.; NWU/UAW

Local 1981

*Tatiana Lemon, Delegate, SEIU Local 1199, Legal Aid Society Chapter

*Robert Lesko, Vice-President, AFT Local 3882

*Eileen A. McCann, Alternate Delegate, Civil-SI, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Patrick McCreery, GSOC/UAW Local 2110

*Miguel Maldonado, President, Immigrant Worker’s Association

*Julius Margolin, IATSE Local 52

*Barton Meyers, Chair, Grievance Policy Committee, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Aaron Micheau, CAB, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Charlene Mitchell, Assistant to the President, AFSCME Local 371, DC 37

*Chuck Mohan, President, Guyanese-American Workers United; Staff Representative, AFSCME DC 1707

*Charles Molesworth, Acting Chair, Queens College Chapter, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local
2334

*Kim Moody, NWU/UAW Local 1981; Labor Notes Policy Committee

*Florence Morgan, CDD-Queens, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Susan Olivia Morris, CDD-Brooklyn, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Amy Muldoon, CWA Local 1106

*Ken Nash, Building Bridges: Your Community and Labor Report in Exile

*Marcia Newfield, BMCC Chapter Officer, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Catherine Newton, Alternate Delegate, CDD-Brooklyn, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Daniel Nichols, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37

*Matt Noyes, Education Coordinator, AUD; NWU/UAW Local 1981

*Tony O’Brien, Delegate, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Susan O’Malley, Executive Council, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Dennis O’Neil, Legislative Director, NY Metro Area Postal Union, APWU

*Richard L. Oeser, IATSE Local 52; Cornell Labor Studies; National Labor College

*Greg Pason, NJ Steering Committee, NWU/UAW Local 1981

*J.P. Patafio, New Directions Caucus & Executive Board, TWU Local 100

*Paul Peloquin, Delegate, LSSA/UAW 2320

*Andy Piascik, Program Coordinator, AUD; NWU/UAW Local 1981

*John Pietaro, Delegate, SEIU Local 1199, Health Systems Division

*Pride at Work, NY

*Jim Provost, LSSA/UAW 2320

*Mike Quinn, High School Delegate, UFT

*Gloria E. Qui’ones, former member, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Peter Ranis, Executive Council, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Shirley Rausher, BMCC Delegate, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Amie Ravitz, union labor attorney; former delegate and Executive Board, LSSA/UAW 2320

*Dominic Renda, CWA Local 1105

*Sally Ridgeway, AAUP, Adelphi Chapter

*Cicely Rodway, Queens College Chapter Officer, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Adolph Reed, Jr. NWU/UAW Local 1981

*Nancy Romer, Executive Council, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Mimi Rosenberg, Delegate, Civil-BNO, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Andrew Rowe, CDD-Brooklyn, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Cathy Ruckelshaus, Litigation Director, National Employment Law Project

*Trudy Rudnick, Organizer, AFT Local 3882

*Michael Ruscigno, IBT Local 802

*Jay Schaffner, Supervisor, National Contracts Dept., AFM Local 802

*Tim Schermerhorn, Vice President, RTO, TWU Local 100

*Jose Schiffino, Organizer, UNITE! Local 169

*Jason Schulman, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Wendy Scribner, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Hasan Shafiqullah, CDD-Brooklyn, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Ryan Shanahan, JRD-Queens, 1199/SEIU, Legal Aid Society chapter

*George Snedeker, Disability Rights Committee, UUP

*Soo Kyung Nam, UAW Local 2320

*Joyce Soso, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37

*Ann Sparanese, Shop Steward, RWDSU Local 29

*Claudette R. Spencer, CDD, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Rob Spencer, Director of Media Services, OSA

*Michael Sullivan, Organizer, UNITE!

*Gibb Surette, Delegate, LSSA/UAW 2320

*Sean Sweeney, Director, Cornell Labor Studies

*Kyle Talbert, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37

*John Talbutt, AFSCME SSEU/Local 371, DC 37

*Terry Taylor, IBEW Local 827, Black Telephone Workers For Justice

*Steve Terry, Alternate Delegate, CDD-Brooklyn, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Miriam Thompson, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Azalia Torres, Alternate Vice-President/CDD-Brooklyn, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Juliet Ucelli, UFT

*Mark Ungar, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Lise Vogel, AAUP/CBC

*Marilyn Vogt-Downey, UFT

*Kit Wainer, UFT

*Michael Ware, Shop Steward, CWA Local 1109

*Ron Washington, IBEW Local 827, Black Telephone Workers For Justice

*Steve Weiner, Shop Steward, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37

*Edlyn Willer, Delegate, CAB, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Corinne Willinger, PEF

*JoAnn Wypijewski, TNGNY/CWA

*Ethan Young, NWU/UAW Local 1981

*Naomi Zauderer, National Employment Law Project; UAW Local 2320 and UAW Local
1981

*Milton Zelermyer, Delegate, PRP, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Robert Zuss, Vice-President/CDD-Brooklyn, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

GLOSSARY

AAUP. American Association of University Professors

ACLA. Attorneys of Color of Legal Aid

AFM. American Federation of Musicians

AFSA. American Federation of School Administrators

AFT. American Federation of Teachers

AFSCME. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees

ALAA. Association of Legal Aid Attorneys

APWU. American Postal Workers Union

AUD. Association for Union Democracy

CAB. Criminal Appeals Bureau, Legal Aid Society

CDD. Criminal Defense Division, Legal Aid Society

CSEA. Civil Service Employees Association

CUNY. City University of New York

CWA. Communication Workers of America

CWE. Consortium for Worker Education

GLTGC. Gay, Lesbian, Trans-Gender Caucus

GSEU. Graduate Student Employees United

GSOC. Graduate Student Organizing Committee

IATSE. International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees

IBEW. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

IBT. International Brotherhood of Teamsters

IWW. Industrial Workers of the World

JRD. Juvenile Rights Division, Legal Aid Society

LSSA. Legal Services Staff Association

NWU. National Writers Union

OSA. Office of Staff Analysts

PEF. Public Employees Federation

PRP. Prisoners Rights Project, Legal Aid Society

PSC. Professional Staff Congress-City University of New York

RWDSU. Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union

SEIU. Service Employees International Union

SSEU. Social Service Employees Union

TWU. Transport Workers Union

UAW. United Auto Workers

UFT. United Federation of Teachers

UNITE! Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees

UUP. United University Professions

VVAW. Vietnam Veterans Against the War

NYC Labor Against the War Press Conference

PRESS ADVISORY

For immediate release: October 3, 2001
Contact: Michael Letwin 212.343.0708 or Ray Laforest 212.219.0022

NYC LABOR AGAINST WAR

WHAT: NYC labor press conference against war, and in support of October 7 antiwar rally, 3 p.m., Union Square

TIME: Thursday, October 4, 12 Noon.

PLACE: Union Square, north side of 14 Street.

WHO: Labor Against War, an ad hoc coalition in response to the September 11 tragedy, supported by more than 100 union members (in their individual capacity) in New York City, including the following eight union presidents: Larry Adams, National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 300; Barbara Bowen, Professional Staff Congress- CUNY/AFT Local 2334; Arthur Cheliotes, Communication Workers of America Local 1180; Michael Letwin, Association of Legal Aid Attorneys/UAW Local 2325; Jill Levy, Council of Supervisors and Administrators, NYS Federation of School Administrators, American Federation of School Administrators Local 1; Maida Rosenstein, UAW Local 2110; Brenda Stokely, AFSCME Local 215, DC 1707; Jonathan Tasini, National Writers Union/UAW Local 1981.

PRINCIPLES:

*NO WAR. It is wrong to punish any nation or people for the crimes of individuals–peace requires global social and economic justice.

*JUSTICE, NOT VENGEANCE. An independent international tribunal to impartially investigate, apprehend and try those responsible for the September 11 attack.

*OPPOSITION TO RACISM–DEFENSE OF CIVIL LIBERTIES. Stop terror, racial profiling and legal restrictions against people of color and immigrants, and defend democratic rights.

*AID FOR THE NEEDY, NOT THE GREEDY. Government aid for the victims’ families and displaced workers–not the wealthy. Rebuild New York City with union labor, union pay, and with special concern for new threats to worker health and safety.

*NO LABOR “AUSTERITY.” The cost of September 11 must not be borne by working and poor New Yorkers. No surrender of workers’ living standards, programs or other rights.

SEE FULL TEXT BELOW

-30-

New York City Labor Against War September 27, 2001

September 11 has brought indescribable suffering to New York City’s working people. We have lost friends, family members and coworkers of all colors, nationalities and religions–a thousand of them union members. An estimated one hundred thousand New Yorkers will lose their jobs.

We condemn this crime against humanity and mourn those who perished. We are proud of the rescuers and the outpouring of labor support for victims’ families. We want justice for the dead and safety for the living.

And we believe that George Bush’s war is not the answer.

No one should suffer what we experienced on September 11. Yet war will inevitably harm countless innocent civilians, strengthen American alliances with brutal dictatorships and deepen global poverty–just as the United States and its allies have already inflicted widespread suffering on innocent people in such places as Iraq, Sudan, Israel and the Occupied Territories, the former Yugoslavia and Latin America.

War will also take a heavy toll on us. For Americans in uniform–the overwhelming number of whom are workers and people of color–it will be another Vietnam. It will generate further terror in this country against Arabs, Muslims, South Asians, people of color and immigrants, and erode our civil liberties.

It will redirect billions to the military and corporate executives, while draining such essential domestic programs as education, health care and the social security trust. In New York City and elsewhere, it will be a pretext for imposing “austerity” on labor and poor people under the guise of “national unity.”

War will play into the hands of religious fanatics–from Osama bin Laden to Jerry Falwell–and provoke further terrorism in major urban centers like New York.

Therefore, the undersigned New York City metro-area trade unionists believe a just and effective response to September 11 demands:

**NO WAR. It is wrong to punish any nation or people for the crimes of individuals–peace requires global social and economic justice.

**JUSTICE, NOT VENGEANCE. An independent international tribunal to impartially investigate, apprehend and try those responsible for the September 11 attack.

**OPPOSITION TO RACISM–DEFENSE OF CIVIL LIBERTIES. Stop terror, racial profiling and legal restrictions against people of color and immigrants, and defend democratic rights.

**AID FOR THE NEEDY, NOT THE GREEDY. Government aid for the victims’ families and displaced workers–not the wealthy. Rebuild New York City with union labor, union pay, and with special concern for new threats to worker health and safety.

**NO LABOR “AUSTERITY.” The cost of September 11 must not be borne by working and poor New Yorkers. No surrender of workers’ living standards, programs or other rights.

Signers (list in formation)(All affiliations and titles listed for identification only)

UNION PRESIDENTS
*Larry Adams, President, National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 300
*Barbara Bowen, President, Professional Staff Congress-CUNY/AFT Local 2334
*Arthur Cheliotes, President, CWA Local 1180
*Michael Letwin, President, Association of Legal Aid Attorneys/UAW Local 2325
*Jill Levy, President, Council of Supervisors and Administrators, NYS Federation of School Administrators, American Federation of School Administrators Local 1
*Maida Rosenstein, President, UAW Local 2110
*Brenda Stokely, President, AFSCME Local 215, DC 1707
*Jonathan Tasini, President, National Writers Union/UAW Local 1981

OTHERS
*Ervand Abrahanian, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
*Tristin Adie, Shop Steward, CWA Local 1109
*Marilyn Albert, RN, SEIU Local 1199
*George Albro, Sec’y-Treasurer, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
*Anthony Arnove, NWU/UAW Local 1981
*Sylvia Aron, Human Services Providers Advisory Committee, NYC Central Labor Rehabilitation Council; Past President, AAUP, Adelphi Chapter
*Stanley Aronowitz, University-Wide Officer & Executive Council, PSC- CUNY, AFT Local 2334
*Daniel Ashworth, Delegate, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
*Harold Bahr III, Chair, GLTGC, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
*Thomas Barton, Shop Steward, AFSCME Local 768, DC 37
*Nicholas K. Bedell, Grievance Representative, CWE/UFT
*Dorothee Benz, Communications Director, CWA Local 1180
*Carl Biers, Executive Director, Association for Union Democracy
*Peter Blum, Acting Vice-President/CAB, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
*Ian Brand, UNITE! Local 169
*Caroline N. Brown, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37
*Robert Bomersbach, Organization of Staff Analysts
*Bill Bradley, Delegate, SEIU Local 32B-J
*Renate Bridenthal, Chair, International Committee, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
*Rachel Burd, labor consultant, NWU/UAW Local 1981
*Chris Butters, AFSCME Local 1070, DC 37
*Maria J. Chiu, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
*Kimberly Christensen, UUP
*Patricia Clough, Queens College Chapter Officer, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
*Antonia Codling, Chair, ACLA, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
*Hillel Cohen, Delegate, SEIU Local 1199
*Thelma C. Correll, SEIU Local 1199, Retirees Chapter Executive Committee; Association for Union Democracy Advisory Bd.; PHANYC
*Jackie DiSalvo, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
*Claire Crosby, GSEU/UAW Local 2110
*Robert E. Dow, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37
*Bryce Dowd, Organizer, SEIU Local 1199
*Steve Downs, Executive Board member, TWU Local 100
*Phyllis Eckhaus, NWU/UAW Local 1981
*Madeleine M. Egger, CWA Local 1101
*Hester Eisenstein, Queens College Chapter, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
*Hugh English, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
*Hillary Exter, LSSA/UAW Local 2320
*Samuel Farber, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
*Josh Fraidstern, TWU Local 100
*Lew Friedman, UFT
*Eric Fruman, AFT
*Nanette Funk, Brooklyn College Chapter, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
*Pam Galpern, Shop Steward, CWA Local 1101
*Gary Goff, Recording Sec’y, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37
*Marty Goodman, Executive Board, TWU Local 100
*Winston A. Gordon, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
*Mark Grashow, former Chapter Chairperson, UFT
*George Gulifield, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37
*Larry Hanley, City College Delegate, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
*Bill Henning, Vice-President, CWA Local 1180
*Lucy Herschel, Delegate, SEIU Local 1199, Legal Aid Chapter
*Ed Hilbrich, SSA/SEIU Local 693
*Carol Hochberg, Vice-President/JRD, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
*Norman Hodgett, AFSCME Local 371, DC 37
*Nina Howes, RN, Delegate, SEIU Local 1199
*Carolyn Hughes, UFT
*Lisa Jessup, Organizer, UAW Local 2110
*Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz, Director, Queens College Worker Education Extension Center; PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
*Christine Karatnytsky, Executive Board member, New York Public Library Guild, AFSCME Local 1930; Editor, Local 1930 Update
*David Kazanjian, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
*Dian Killian, Organizer, Journalism Division, NWU/UAW Local 1981
*Terry Klug, Sec’y-Treasurer, TWU Local 241
*Lisa Maya Knauer, GSOC/UAW Local 2110
*Daniella Korotzer, Alternate Vice-President/CDD-Brooklyn, Health & Safety Representative, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
*Kitty Krupat, Bargaining Team, GSOC/UAW Local 2110
*Ray Laforest, Staff Representative, DC 1707, AFSCME
*Jane Latour, Director, Women’s Project, Association for Union Democracy; Managing Ed., Hardhat Magazine; NWU/UAW Local 1981
*Tatiana Lemon, Delegate, SEIU Local 1199, Legal Aid Chapter
*Robert Lesko, Vice-President, AFT Local 3882
*Eileen A. McCann, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
*Patrick McCreery, GSOC/UAW Local 2110
*Julius Margolin, IATSE Local 52
*Barton Meyers, Chair, Grievance Policy Committee, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
*Aaron Micheau, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
*Charles Molesworth, Acting Chair, Queens College Chapter, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
*Kim Moody, NWU/UAW Local 1981; Labor Notes Policy Committee
*Florence Morgan, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
*Susan Olivia Morris, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
*Amy Muldoon, CWA Local 1106
*Ken Nash, Building Bridges: Your Community and Labor Report in Exile
*Marcia Newfield, BMCC Chapter Officer, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
*Daniel Nichols, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37
*Matt Noyes, Education Coordinator, Association for Union Democracy; NWU/UAW Local 1981
*Tony O’Brien, Delegate, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
*Susan O’Malley, Executive Council, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
*Charlene Mitchell, Assistant to the President, AFSCME Local 371, DC 37
*Chuck Mohan, President, Guyanese-American Workers United; Staff Representative, AFSCME DC 1707
*Dennis O’Neil, Legislative Director, NY Metro Area Postal Union (APWU)
*Richard L. Oeser, IATSE Local 52; Cornell Labor Studies; National Labor College
*Greg Pason, NJ Steering Committee, NWU/UAW Local 1981
*J.P. Patafio, New Directions Caucus & Executive Board member, TWU Local 100
*Paul Peloquin, Delegate, LSSA/UAW 2320
*Andy Piascik, Program Coordinator, Association for Union Democracy; NWU/UAW Local 1981
*John Pietaro, Delegate, SEIU Local 1199, Health Systems Division
*Pride at Work, NY
*Jim Provost, LSSA/UAW 2320
*Mike Quinn, High School Delegate, UFT
*Peter Ranis, Executive Council, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
*Shirley Rausher, BMCC Delegate, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
*Dominic Renda, CWA Local 1105
*Sally Ridgeway, AAUP, Adelphi Chapter
*Cicely Rodway, Queens College Chapter Officer, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
*Jay Schaffner, Supervisor, National Contracts Dept., AFM Local 802
*Jose Schiffino, Organizer, UNITE! Local 169
*Soo Kyung Nam, UAW Local 2320
*Nancy Romer, Executive Council, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
*Trudy Rudnick, Organizer, AFT Local 3882
*Wendy Scribner, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
*Hasan Shafiqullah, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
*Tim Schermerhorn, Vice President, RTO, TWU Local 100
*Joyce Soso, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37
*Ann Sparanese, Shop Steward, RWDSU Local 29
*Claudette R. Spencer, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
*Gibb Surette, Delegate, LSSA/UAW 2320
*Sean Sweeney, Director, Cornell Labor Studies
*Kyle Talbert, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37
*Terry Taylor, IBEW Local 827, Black Telephone Workers For Justice
*Miriam Thompson, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
*Azalia Torres, Alternate Vice-President/CDD-Brooklyn, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
*Mark Ungar, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
*Lise Vogel, AAUP/CBC
*Marilyn Vogt-Downey, UFT
*Kit Wainer, UFT
*Michael Ware, Shop Steward, CWA Local 1109
*Ron Washington, IBEW Local 827, Black Telephone Workers For Justice
*Edlyn Willer, Delegate, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
*Corinne Willinger, PEF
*JoAnn Wypijewski, TNGNY/CWA
*Ethan Young, NWU/UAW Local 1981
*Milton Zelermyer, Delegate, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
*Robert Zuss, Vice-President/CDD-Brooklyn, ALAA/UAW Local 2325